Elise knew Iris would come. So she was confident she wouldn’t be shaken upon seeing her.
But perhaps because of their long enmity, Elise’s heart wavered. However, she didn’t show it outwardly.
“You don’t look well, sister. I guess whatever you’re doing isn’t going smoothly.”
With others watching, instead of rudely dismissing Iris, Elise patted her back once or twice.
The court officials peeking through the open door slowly dispersed. Regina quickly shut the door. As soon as the door closed, Elise moved away from Iris.
“Sit down, we need to catch up on what’s been happening.”
Iris acted like she owned the place wherever she went. When she appeared, everyone made way for her, the lead role–it was a habit ingrained in her.
“Regina, our guest is leaving. See her out.”
Elise saw no need to witness that spectacle further.
“Hey!”
At Elise’s dismissive remark, Iris raised both eyebrows and yelled.
With just Regina there, she didn’t need to be discreet, it seemed.
‘I should’ve told her not to close the door.’
Seeing false smiles makes me sick, but at least I can stop her from being rude.
“I have nothing to say to you, sister, nor anything to tell you. I don’t know why you came here, but since you’re here, why don’t you take your fiancé and go.”
“Even if you don’t say it, I will. A request for cooperation in the Gate Subjugation came from Magnus.”
From Iris’s arrogant tone, it seems she and Chase will be going for the 3rd Gate Subjugation.
‘So they mobilized the Ivory Tower.’
Did you think I’d just sit and let you two take the credit?
Elise planned to conquer the gate before Iris and Chase could gain recognition, through Ilaria.
Iris’s arrogance was contemptible.
“If you’re done talking, get out. Should I show you the way out?”
Iris dropped all pretense of smiling. She approached in a threatening manner. Even when right in Elise’s face, Elise didn’t budge an inch.
With just a step between them, Iris leaned her upper body forward.
Close enough for their noses to touch, Iris wore a thick mocking smile.
“Richter told me to pass a message to you.”
Richter–at that name, Elise felt a chill down her spine.
It seems he found out about her contacts with Richter.
Elise started worrying about him.
“Tell him I send my regards too.”
But she boldly brushed it off.
“Hah.”
Suddenly Iris burst into laughter. She covered her mouth and waved her hand, as if unable to hold it in.
“Hah, hahah.”
Elise’s eyes narrowed. There’s something! Iris did something.
An ominous premonition passed through Elise’s back.
“How can I pass a message to someone buried underground? If you have that ability, teach me.”
“…?!”
Richter is dead?
Elise tried to stay calm, but it wasn’t easy. Seeing Elise’s twitching lips, Iris was finally satisfied.
“I should have done this from the start. Since you didn’t seem surprised to see me, I kept preparing shocking surprises for you. I’m tired, let’s meet again at the evening banquet.”
“What a pity about that person. Goodbye.”
Elise struggled until the end not to break down. Iris’s twitching eyebrow suggested her efforts paid off.
“Miss!”
After Iris left, Elise staggered. Regina, who had seen Iris off, rushed to Elise’s side.
“Leave me be. I need to be alone with my thoughts.”
“Yes, Miss. Fiona, Ruo and I will look into this if you allow us.”
“I’d appreciate it if you could.”
Elise’s eyes drifted aimlessly.
****
Upon hearing of Iris’s arrival, Karan hurriedly wrapped up his work. He was worried about Elise.
Coincidentally, he also had good news that might cheer her up. He grabbed a long box and hastened his steps towards his palace.
His palace was bustling more than usual today. As he climbed up to Elise’s chambers, he peeked inside the arched door on the first floor and saw court officials busily preparing for the evening banquet.
A refreshing breeze blew through Karan’s heart. In just a few days, it would be their engagement ceremony.
The day Elise would officially become his. Though not as significant as marriage, a royal engagement was an elaborate ceremony akin to a wedding.
Karan repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist to calm his fluttering heart.
Soon, Elise’s door came into view. As close as if he could touch it by falling forward, yet it felt miles away to Karan.
Regina, seated on the hallway sofa, stood up upon seeing him.
“You’re here, Your Highness.”
From Regina’s drained appearance, Karan realized Iris must have caused a scene before leaving.
Regina always lost energy whenever Elise was distressed or hurt.
“I’ll let her know you’ve arrived.”
He wished he could just barge in, but his beloved was a sensitive soul.
Especially on days her heart was wounded, he had to approach cautiously and gently. If he waited, she would reach out and welcome him warmly.
“Miss, His Highness Karan is here,” Regina called out.
A rustling sound came from inside as Elise did some quick grooming.
“Let him in.”
Regina exited and Karan entered, carefully closing the door behind him. Elise greeted him with a faint smile.
“It’s still early for the evening banquet, Your Highness.”
“Our engagement is just around the corner, Elise. I feel I’ve left too much to you alone.”
Karan swallowed the countless questions–what happened with Iris, did she say hurtful things to you, should I confront her, please confide in me and vent.
Instead, he made another excuse.
“Not at all. You’ve done everything you could, Your Highness.”
Though Karan did not take charge directly, he swiftly and devotedly carried out Elise’s every instruction better than anyone.
It was Karan who arranged escorts and carriages to bring Jasmine and Deboa to Tetris without delay via Bedrokka.
“Did you come because of sister Iris?”
Seeing Karan’s sullen face, Elise guessed the reason for his visit.
“I can’t hide it.”
Karan went and sat beside Elise. She was seated on the rug in front of the fireplace, leaning against the sofa.
“Why are you sitting on the floor?”
“The fireplace is warm.”
“Are you cold?”
Even in early summer, the mornings felt chilly. So in the evenings, the fireplace was lit in Elise’s room as she hadn’t fully adjusted to Tetris’s weather yet.
“I’m fine. After the engagement ceremony, I may not need the fireplace anymore.”
Implying she would have fully acclimatized to Tetris by then.
The two silently watched the crackling fireplace flames.
Karan was inept at consoling. Elise wasn’t good at opening up either.
For them, silence was a mutual consideration and comfort.
Karan lightly nudged Elise’s fingertips with his own between them. Elise didn’t react.
What was she staring at so intently? Karan quietly studied her increasingly flushed face.
At that moment, Elise was mourning Richter.
He was a foolish man who carelessly risked himself for attention.
But he wasn’t so bad as to deserve being killed by someone.
The thought made Elise’s chest tighten painfully.
As far as she could remember, Richter had been alive until her supposed death.
So she hadn’t really worried about his wellbeing.
Though realistically, it was hard enough keeping track of David from afar, still…
‘It’s because of me.’
If she had told Richter to stop watching Iris and forget her instead, would he have lived?
Of course, even if Elise had let him go the day he kidnapped her, Richter would never have left Iris’s side.
He was bound to her, unable to stray too far.
Yet the fact remained that her orders hastened his demise.
Even if she could turn back time, why was she so foolish? Why did she endanger those around her?
Why am I so inadequate, incompetent…?
“Elise, look at me. Elise.”
Elise snapped out of it from the firm grip shaking her shoulders. Karan’s face filled her vision.
“…Your Highness…”
“You don’t want to talk about it?”
Elise shook her head.
“Then don’t even think about it.”
Karan laid Elise down on the rug, her dress and hair splaying out.
He loomed over her, using one hand to prop himself up beside her face while the other gripped her chin, parting her lips.
“Whatever thoughts are tormenting you, forget them all, whether true or not.”
“But…”
“If you can’t, I’ll make you forget.”
Karan devoured Elise’s lips in a kiss. She squirmed her hips.
The more she resisted, the more insistently he breathed into her. Elise’s chest heaved, struggling for air.
Karan allowed her the briefest moment to gasp for breath, before latching onto her panting lips again, pinning her down.
He enveloped her body, preventing any movement.
That way, her thoughts couldn’t escape either.
Just moments ago, watching the fireplace, Elise looked ready to let go of everything.
That couldn’t happen.
What began as a kiss to anchor Elise became Karan’s desperate writhing to cling to her.
Thanks for the chapter